Compare towns
Salem vs Rochester vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Salem | Rochester | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
33,144Highest |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Salem and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rochester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Rochester School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.